Ysgol Bae Baglan named Best Designed Building in Wales

Since opening its doors in September, the school has established itself as a landmark facility at the heart of the local community. It brings together three comprehensives and one primary school, housing 1,400 pupils aged three to 16.

“At Ysgol Bae Baglan, the architects Stride Treglown have created a real sense of place and local distinctiveness. In particular, the magnificent central hub of multi-purpose spaces at the core of the school provides a fine gathering and sharing space.

This is an impressive example of engagement and commitment between experienced architects and an enlightened client.”

The Eisteddfod announcement comes hot on the heels of the school winning the Constructing Excellence Wales ‘Project of the Year’ award, and making the shortlist for the ‘Digital Construction’ category.

We’re also thrilled to see our next two major secondary and all-through education projects for Neath Port Talbot, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Dur and Ysgol Newydd Margam (delivered by the same Baglan team of Bouygues UK, Cambria and AECOM), get off to a flying start on site.

“Design and construction excellence should be the default for the public estate, not least the learning environments where our future generations will be shaped. The achievement of public value should be the priority in terms of return on the investment of public funds. Much like health, the educational estate, which has so profound an effect on the life chances of our children and communities, must lead the field.

The client vision, design team collaboration and opportunity for a more cohesive community is inspirational and has formed the heart of a bold design solution.”